kevinthoele

My Feedback: (1)

Glad to help Frank. I hope you enjoy many great years of flying it

barron06

This is the most recent build log I could find. This is my 1st Skymaster and 1st turbine aircraft build. I've been buying all my other stuff used. I have ~45 years in RC. I recieved my Xtreme Skymaster F-20 and have some concerns / questions:
- Are folks just gluing the fin to the fuselage or has anyone made it removable?
- If glued, was the paint removed? The fin gluing surface is so thin that I didn't think it would matter whether paint was removed or not.. but still. I wish was removable, for transport reasons.
- Based on my previous experience, I'm concerning about wing-side carbon rod installation. The video shows it all:
My questions are:
- Have there been any (recent) reports of wing fold on the F-5/T-38/F-20??
- Is the construction shown in the video similar to what others have??

The wings are really short so I reasoned that the structure is sound. However, I still think I will do some reinforcement. Note that I do NOT fly crazy.. pulling full stick or doing snap-rolls (not on a turbine) but I just want to know if I do a 199 mph flyby and firmly pull up, or pull a firm 90deg bank turn, will the wing hold together. My 20-year old Bobcat's wing spar construction looks like what I would expect.

There are good reasons I prefer to buy used. The airframe and setup is already vetted. You get the same product for like 1/2 off. Problem was, I scoured the earth looking for an F-20 and came up empty... but I love this airframe. I already have a smaller edf type. Hence, my hand was forced to buy new.

frankmokaya

I had the SM T38 and I was not so much concerned about the balsa but the landing gear mountinmounting. My issue was with the landing gear area. As you mentioned it seemes to not have enough glue/the CF reinforcement could have been better.
As you will see I had a pretty good landing but a bit hotter than i would have liked and that ripped the gear out and tore part of the wing skin with it. I wound up beefing that area up and had no more issues after that.

barron06

Frank,
I saw this video and your fix earlier when I subscribed. Yeah, that landing was kindof hot.. but smooth. It should not have ripped the mount out. Actually, I just figured you just hit a pot-hole down the runway. Did you glue your fin on?

emart

Barron06 what scheme did you get I also have a F-20 on order

barron06

AF220. Gray. It may have been yours if yours was incorrectly painted. Only took me about 3 weeks to get it.

emart

sounds like it . I wanted the Dark metallic grey of the proto type. Please post your build if you do not mind .. I have built a few Skymaster jets I always beef up the landing gear with better ply and some hysol and a bit of carbon fiber . We fly off grass and have yet to rip out any gear

barron06

Yeah, I built a Kressline F-20 ducted fan back in the day... unpainted fuse and such. I believe the color was called "bmw grey". I'll post the build but I must say it may be a while. Prolly by the time you get yours. I too fly off grass.. a smooth private airstrip for full size birds 1900 ft.

emart

very nice model if you dont mind can you post some pics of the jet ?I had a Byron F-20 back in the day flew ok but was a challenge getting off the ground with the old glow ducted fan I believe I painted it in BMW Ascot Grey

barron06

sorry but the pics I had are long lost.. unless your talking about my sm one?

emart

yes I meant the new Skymaster one

barron06

Let me know if there was anything more

emart

Thanks Looks great can't wait to get mine

kevinthoele

My Feedback: (1)

Been flying my T38 for probably 15 years + and really enjoying it.

Good luck with your new jets

scoeroo

My Feedback: (9)

Looks like the main-wing retract mounts could do with some beefing up ...... hard wood blk & hy-sol , as we dont see any carbon fiber ribbon reinforcement
I did my F-5 as i wasnt impressed with the factory install